Intermittent strip feed mechanism



Oct. 24, 1944. A s HOWELL 2,361,291

` l, INTERMITTENT STRIP FEED MECHANISM Filed Jan. 6, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTDR ALEEHT E. Hum/ELL EY Mfm.

ANY.

OCL 24, 1944- A. s. HOWELL \INTERMITTENT lSTRIP FEED MECHANISM Filed Jan. s, 194s `2` sheets-sheet 2 ALBERT E. H Inv/ELL ATN Patented ct. 24` 1944 lN'IlERMIIITENTl STRIP FEED MECHANISM- Albert s. nowalrculver, ma., assignor to The Bell & Howell Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application January s, 1943, serial Na. 411,442

16 claims. (Ciba-184i My invention relates particularly to an intervmittent strip feed mechanism for feeding motion picture lm strips provided with usual feed perforatio-ns spaced longitudinally thereof.

Objects of the invention reside in the provision of a novel, desirable #and effective intermittent stripfeed mechanism which is precise in its operation, which is capable of operation at high speeds, which is so constructed that the reciprocatory structure thereof has acomparatively small amount of momentum, and which is economical as to manufacture, all with a view toward the provision of a precision intermittent feed mechanism for motion picture film strips. Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel, desirable and effective counterbalancing device for intermittent strip feed mechanisms and particularly for the feed mechanism of my invention, with a view toward minimizing vibration incident to reciprocation of the reciprocatory structure of the `feed mechanism.

Referring ,to the drawings- Figure 1 is an enlarged elevational View of an intermittent motion picture strip feed mechanism y embodying my invention with parts broken away and shown in section;

Figure 2 is another elevational view ofthe same taken at a right angle to Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertically condensed sectional view substantially on the .line 3 3 of Figure. 1;

Figures 4/ and 5 are partial sectional views substantially on theline 4--4 of Figure 1 and showing the parts in different'positions lof their operation; i

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the feed element carrier arms of the mechanism, hereinafter described; l

Figure "IV is a perspective view of the .counter balanceweight of the mechanism, hereinafter described; and Y Figure 8 is a partial sectional view. showing the engagement structure between a carrier arm and the wire-like feed element of the mechanism, hereinafter described.

Referring to the drawings, I designates generally a motion picture stripvfeed guide which is the subject matter o'f-my co-pending application for nally and spaced transversely from the guide, the studs being secured in adjusted positions by means of set screws 6. vSee Figures 1, 2 and`3.

A shaft 1 is pivotally mounted axially thereof by means of opposing tapered ends 8 of the studs 4 engaging in tapered recesses 9 in the ends of the shaft, the shaftbeing thus positioned for angular movement on its axis and disposed longitudinally and spaced transversely from the guide I. Pivot pins II are spaced longitudinally of the shaft 1 and extend diametrically therethrough and are secured therewith, the pins projecti'ng from both sides of the shaft and having their projecting portions of V-shape to form male knife bearing elements facing oppositely' away from each other and disposed respectively on axes 7 spaced longitudinally of and extending corre- I' scribed, are xed with the shaft angular-ly there- United States Letters Patent, Serial No. 471.443, y

led January 6, 1943, for improvement' in Strip feed guide. l

A frame part 2 is provided with extensions 3 spaced longitudinally ofl and transversely fromv the guide. Bearing studs 4 are adjustably screwthreaded respectively into coaxial bores 5 through the' extensions 3 on an axis'extending longitudi- -to provide opposing spondingly transversely of the shaft.

Two carrier arms I2 and I3 are provided adjacent corresponding ends thereof with transverse bores I4 through which the shaft 1 projects and which are so shaped as to permit pivotal movement of these arms o n axes normal to the axis of the shaft. See Figures 1,'3 and 6. These arms are provided at the bores thereof with V- shaped grooves I5 forming female knife bearing elements extending transversely of the arms and their bores I4. The arms I2 and I3 have their lgrooves I5 respectively engaged on the V-shape portions of the pins II with the shaft extending through the bores I4 and, when oppositely tensioned against the pins II as hereinafter deof for pivotal movement with the shaft on the shaft axis and are independentlyl pivotally mounted thereon on axes spaced-longitudinally of and extending correspondingly transversely of the shaft, the arms being thus universally pivotally mounted at the axis of the shaft.

A laterally flexible wire feed element I6 has three collars i1 secured lin equally spaced relation on the intermediate portion thereof and forming laterally projecting feed teeth engageable with usual feed perforations of a motion picture film strip, not shown, in the guide I for feeding the strip therethrough. See Figures 1 and 2. The ends of the wire I6 are doubled back hooks I8, see also Figure 3, which are engaged-1n oppositely facing trans-l verse boresvl in corresponding ends 2| of the carrier arms I2 and I3 for securing the Wire I6 at points-therealong oppositely spaced from the collars or teeth I1 with and extending between the arms when the arms are tensioned as hereinafter described, the wire being onset adjacent its ends, as designated at 22, to aline the inter- -mediate portion thereof with the extremities of the hooks so that the intermediate portion of the wire is not laterally displaced with angular movewith and extendingbetween the arms in similar but opposite relation with respect to the wire I6, so that the spring reacting on the pivotal bearings II-I5 of the arms on the shaft 1, maintains engagement of these-bearings and acting through the arms is operative on the'wire I3 longitudinally thereof to longitudinally tension the wire and thereby to rigidly maintain the same. v

As so carried in tensined condition, the wire IS, with its laterally projecting collars or feed teeth I1, is, with respect to the guide I and a perforated strip therein, longitudinally reciprocable by reason of the arm pivotbearings III5 of the arms I2 and I3 for strip feed and return movement and is laterally reciprocable for strip perforation engaging and d isengaging movement by reason of theA pivotal movement of the shaft l1 with which the arms are fixed angularly of the shaft, and the wire I6 is reciprocated longitudinally and laterally in timed relation for intermittently feeding a perforated strip in the guide in the following manner.

'Ihe arms I2 and I3 are connected at equal radii thereof with the wire I6 and are connected at unequal radii thereof with the spring 23, as will be seen in Figure 1, or conversely, the sum of the feed element (wire I6) and tensioning element (spring 23) radii of one of the arms (lower arm I3) is less than that of the feed and tension.. ing element radii of the other of the arms (upper arm I2), so that the spring 23 yieldably urges the arms and feed element in one direction of the feed and return vmovement of the feed eleo ment, i. e., upwardly of thewire I 6 in Figures 1 and 2.

A cam member 21 is revolubly mounted by means of a drive shaft 28, on which the cam member 21 is fixed, journaled in axially fixed position in suitable bearings not shown. See Figures 1 and 2. This cam member is spaced from the shaft 1 in the direction of the Wire I 6 and is disposed with its axis above the lower arm I3 and normal to the plane of the guide.

The cam member 21 is provided with a pe` ripheral cam groove 29 downwardly engaging an enlarged cam follower portion 3| on the arm I3 intermediate the wire I6 and the pivotal mounting of thisarm. The bottom of this cam groove is formed to provide a radial cam 32 which bears downwardly on the cam follower portion 3I in opposition tothe spring 23 for reciprocating the wire I3 and the arms I2 and I3 for longitudinal feed and return movement of the wire. See Figures 14 and 5. The opposing axially facing sides 33 of this cam groove embrace the cam follower 3I therebetween and are formed to provide an axial-cam which acts on the cam follower 3I for reciprocation of the wire I3 and the arms I2 'and I3 laterally of the wire for strip` perforation engaging and disengaging movement of the Wire, the cams -32 and 33 being so timed as to effect intermittent feed of a perforated strip in the guide with rotation of the cam member.

A counterweightarm 34 is provided at one end 39 of the bore of the collar to form a' thrust bear-g ing opposing downward movement of the collar. The collar 35 is provided with an upwardly facing V-shaped ridge 4I. forming a. male knife bearing element facing upwardly of and disposed normal to the pivotal axis of vthis collar. The weight arm 34 is provided with a V-shaped groove 42 forming a female knife bearing element disposed normal to the bore 35 and engageable downwardlyon the ridge 4I whereby the weight arm, whenrtensioned downwardly on the ridge 4I as hereinafter described, is universally pivotally mounted correspondingly with the carrier arms I2 and I3 at the axis of the shaft 1. n

'I'he 'weight arm 34, at a point spaced from its pivot point, bears downwardly on the periphery of the cam member 21, and a tension spring 43 engages downwardly. on the weight member, intermediate the pivot point of the weight member and the region of contact of the weight member with the cam member, and, reacting on a stud 44 secured on the shaft 1 and extending ingly beveled cam follower groove 46 on the weight arm 34 engages. 'Ihe complemental cam surfaces 45 are so formed as to provide a radial and axial cam formation operative on the weight member to reciprocate it in paths corresponding with the feed and return movement and the strip perforation engaging and disengaging movement of the toothed wire I5 and arms I2 and I3.

'I'he axial and radial cam components of the cam surfaces 45 are so timed with respect t'o the axial and radial cam components of the cam groove 23 that the feed shuttle, exemplified by the toothed wire I3 and firms I2 and I3 as tensioned by the.spring 23, and the 'weight arm 34 are reciprocated in timed opposite movement phase relation with respect to both of the feed and return movement and the strip perforation engaging and disengaging movement of the feed cordingly, as shown; both the feed and return d and the strip perforation engaging and disengaging movements ofthe shuttle are counterbalanced.

By way of illustration, Figure 4, which shows the same position of the cam member 21 as does Figure 1, shows the cam' follower portion 3| of' the arm I3 at the uppermost position ofthe feed and return movement and to the right at the 'strip perforation engaging position 'of the feed shuttle and shows the weight arm 3l, positioned,

oppositely with respect to the feed shuttle, in-its' lowermost position and to the left. Figure-.5

showsl the cam member 21 in another/,position in which the cam follower portionof the arm I3 is at the lowermost position of ythe feed and return movement and to the, left at the strip perforation disengaged position of the feed shuttle and in which the" weight arm M, 'positioned oppositely with respect to the feed shuttle, is at its uppermost position and to the right.

While I, have thus described my invention,l I do not wish` to be limited to the precise details described, as changes may be readily made without departing from the spirit of 'my invention, but having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent the following: V

l. In an intermittent strip feed mechanism, the combination of a laterally flexible wire-like feed element provided with at least one laterally projecting strip perforation engaging feed tooth, tensioning means carrying said feed element for longitudinal reciprocatory strip feed and return movement and operative on said -feed element longitudinally thereofv at points therealong opposltely spaced from said tooth to longitudinally tension said feed-element, and means for longitudinally reciprocatingl said feed element.

2. In an intermittent strip feed mechanism,

the combination of a laterally flexible wire-like feed element provided with at least one laterally projecting strip perforation engaging feed tooth, tensioning means carrying said feed element for longitudinal reciprocatory strip feed and return movement comprising-a carrier member mounted for reciprocatory movement and connected with said feed element at a point spaced in one direction from said tooth and a resilient tensioning elerxent connected with said feed element at a point spaced in the opposite direction from said .tooth and operative longitudinally of said movement of said carrier member to longitudinally .5

tension said feed element, and means operative on said carrier member for reciprocating the same `and said feed element.

3; In an intermittent strip feed mechanism, the combination of `a laterally flexible wire-like feed element provided with atleast one laterally` projecting strip perforation engaging feed tooth, tensioning means carrying said feed element for longitudinal reciprocatory strip feed and return movement comprising two carrier arms pivotally mounted for independentcorresponding move; mentand connected at radii thereofwith said feed element respectively at points on said feed element spaced oppositely from said tooth l:and

' a resilient tensioning element connected with one of said arms and operative thereon to longitudinally tension said feed element between -sald arms, and revoluble means operative on the other of said arms for reciprocating said arms and 4. In'an intermittent strip feed mechanism, the combination of a laterally flexible wire-like feed element provided with at least pnelaterally projecting strip perforation engaging feed tooth, tensioning means carrying said feed element for longitudinal reciprocatory strip feed and return movement comprising two carrier arms pivotally g.

/said arms at radii thereof and operative therebetween to longitudinally tension said feed element and the sum of the feed and tensioning element radii of a first of said arms being less than that of the feed and tensioning element radii of the second of said arms to yieldably urge said arms and feed element in one direction, and

revoluble means operative on one of said arms in the opposite direction for reciprocating said arms 'and feed element.

5. In an `intermittent strip feed mechanism, the combination of a laterally flexible wire-like feed element provided .with at least one laterally projecting strip perforation engaging feed tooth.

tensioning'means carrying said feed element for longitudinal reciprocatory strip feed and return movement and for lateral reciprocatory strip perforation engaging and disengaging movement andv operative on said feed element longitudinally thereof at points therealong oppositely spaced from said tooth to Vlongitudinally tension said feed element, and revo1uble means for longitudinally and laterally reciprocating said feed ele.

ment in timed relation for effecting intermittent feed of a feed perforated strip.

6. In an intermittent strip feed mechanism, the combination of a laterally exible wire-like feedirelement provided with at least one laterally projecting strip perforation engaging feed tooth, tensioning means carrying said feed element for longitudinal reciprocatory strip feed and return movement and for lateral reciprocatory strip perforation engaging and disengaging movement comprising a carrier arm universally pivotally mounted and connected `at a radius thereof with said feed element at a point spaced from said tooth and a resilient tensioning element connected with said feed element at a point spaced in the opposite direction from said tooth and operative to longitudinally tension said feed eleg ment, and revoluble means operative on said arm for reciprocating the same andasaid feed element longitudinally and laterally of said feed element in timed relation for edecting intermittent feed of a perforated strip.

7. In an intermittent strip feed mechanism, the combination of avlaterally flexible wire-like feed element provided with at least one laterally projecting strip pe orationl engaging feed tooth,

shaft member angularlyof said shaft member and independently pivotally mounted thereon respectively on axes spaced longitudinally of and extending correspondingly transversely ofsaid shaft member, said arms being connected at@ radii thereof with said feed element respectively atpoints on said feed element spaced oppositely from said tooth, and a resilient tensioning element connected with one ofvsaid arms and opy erative thereon to longitudinally tension said feed element between said arms, and revoluble means for reciprocating said arms and feed ele' ment longitudinally and laterally of said feed mounted for independent corresponding morement and connected at radii thereof with 'said feed element respectively at points lon said feed element spaced oppositi'zlyv from said tooth and element for effecting intermittent feed of a perforated strip and operative on the other of said arms. l

8. In an intermittent strip -feed mechanism,

the combination ofa laterally flexible wire-like feed element providedwith at least `one laterally projecting strip perforation engaging feed tooth,

movement; and for lateral reciprocatory strip perforation engaging and disengaging movement comprising a shaft member pivotally mountedv axially thereof, two carrier arms fixed with said shaft member angularly of said shaft member and independently pivotally mounted thereon respectively on axes spaced longitudinally of and extending correspondingly transversely of said shaft member, said arms being connected at equal radii thereof with said feed element respectively at points on said feed element spaced oppositely fromsaid tooth, and a resilient tensioning element connected witli said arms at unequal radii thereof and operative therebetween to longitudinally tension said feed element and to yieldably urge said arms in one direction, and a revoluble cam member provided with a peripheral cam groove formed to provide aradial and an axial cam, both of which are operative on the carrier arm having the lesser tensioning element radius and the radial cam of which is operative on this arm in the direction opposite said one direction. l

9. In an intermittent strip feed mechanism, the combination of a toothed strip feed shuttle mounted for reciprocation, a counterbalance weight mounted for reciprocation in a path corresponding with that of said shuttle, and means for reciprocating said shuttle and weight in timed opposite movement phase relation for counterbalancing said shuttle.

10. In an intermittent strip feed mechanism, the combination of a toothed strip feed shuttle mounted for reciprocation, a counterbalance weight mounted for reciprocation in a path corresponding with that of said shuttle, and a revolubie cam member operative 'on said shuttle and weight for reciprocating the same in timed pfeed element provided with at least one laterally projecting strip perforation engaging feed tooth, tensioning means carrying said feed element for longitudinal reciprocatory strip feed and return movement comprising a carrier member mounted for reciprocatory movement and connected' with said feed element at a point spaced in one direction from said tooth and a resilient tensioning element connected with said feed. element at a point spaced in the opposite direction from said tooth and operative longitudinally of said movement of said carrier membervto longitudinally tension said feed element, a counterbalposite movement phase relation for counterbalancing said'shuttle.

11. I n an intermittent strip feed mechanism, the combination of a toothed strip feed shuttle mounted for reciprocatory strip feed and return movement and for reciprocatory strip perforation engaging and disengaging movement transversely of said feed and return movement, counterbalance weight means mounted for reciprocationl in paths corresponding with said feed and return and said perforation 'engaging and disengaging movements of said shuttle; and

means for reciprocating said shuttle and weight means in timed oppsite movement phase relation with respect to oth of said feed and return and said perforation engaging and disengaging movements of saidshuttle for counterbalancing said shuttle.

12. In an intermittent strip feed mechanism, the combination of a toothed strip feed shuttle mounted for reciprocatory strip feed and return movement and for reciprocatory strip perforation engaging and disengaging movement transversely of said feed and return movement, counterbalance weight means mounted for reciprocation in paths corresponding with said feed and return and said perforation engagingl and disengaging movements of said shuttle, and a revoluble cam member for reciprocatingl said shuttle and weight means intimed opposite movement phase relation with'respect to both of\said feed and return and said perforation engaging and disengaging movements of saidshuttle for counterbalancing'said shuttle and comprising an axial and radial cam formation op ance weight mounted for reciprocation corresponding with that of said carrier member, and means for reciprocating said carrier member and weight in timed opposite movement phase relation for counterbalancing said carrier member and feed element.

' 15. In an intermittent strip feed mechanism, the combination of a laterally flexible wire-like feed element provided with at least one laterally projecting strip perforation engaging feed tooth, tensioning means carrying said feed element forlongitudinal reciprocatory strip feed and return movement and for lateral reciproca- `tory strip perforation engaging and disengaging movement comprising a carrier arm universally pivotally mounted and connected at a radius thereof with said feed element at a point spaced from said tooth anda resilient tensioning element connected with said feed element at a point spaced in the opposite direction from said tooth and operative to longitudinally tension said feed element, a counterbalance weight universally pivotally mounted, and revoluble means operative on said arm .and weight for reciprocating the same in timed opposite movement phase relation with respect to both said feed and return and said perforation engaging and disengaging movements for counterbalancing said arm and feed' elements.

16. In an intermittent strip feedmechanism, the combination of a laterally flexible wire-like feed element provided with at least one laterally projecting strip perforation engaging feed tooth, tensioning means carrying said feed element for longitudinal reciprocatory strip feed and return movement and for lateral reciprocatory strip perforation engaging and disengaging movement comprising a shaft member pivotally 'mounted axially thereof, two carrier arms fixed with said shaft member angularly of said lshaft member and independently pivotally mounted thereon respectively on axes spaced longitudinally of and extending correspondingly transversely of said shaft member, said arms being connected at radii thereof with said feed element respectively at points on said feed element spaced oppositely from said tooth,.and a resilient tensioning element connected with said arms at radii thereof and operative therebetween to,l longitudinally tension said ,feed element and the' sum of the feed member and element radii of a rst of said arms being less than that Vof the feed member and tensioning element radii ot the second of said arms to yieldably urge said arms and feed element in one direction oi' said feed and return movement. a counterbalance weight universally pivotally mounted in the region of the axis of said shaft. a second resilient element 'yieldably urging said weight in the direction opposite said rst mentioned direction. and a revoluble cam member operative between one or said arms and said weight in opposition to said tensioning elements for `reeiproeating the same in timed opposite movement phase relation with respect to both said feed and return and said perforation engaging and disengaging movements for counterbalancing said arms and feed element. ALBERT S. HOWELL. 

